Ukraine grain export deal back on as Russia rejoins

Ankara/Kyiv:Russia said on Wednesday it would resume its participation in a deal freeing up grain exports from wartorn Ukraine, reversing a move that world leaders had said threatened to exacerbate global hunger.

 Moscow announced the sudden reversal after Turkiye and the UN helped keep Ukrainian grain flowing for several days without Russian participation in inspections.

The Russian defence ministry justified the u-turn by saying it had received guarantees from Kyiv not to use the Black Sea grain corridor for military operations against Russia. Kyiv did not comment on that, but has denied in the past that it used the agreed shipping corridor as cover for attacks.